Shane Thomas | The Valdosta Daily TimesBrooks County quarterback Mac Perry throws against Vidalia during the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs at Veterans Stadium on Nov. 10 in Quitman.

VALDOSTA — With their sights on a third Class 2A state semifinals appearance since 2013, the Brooks County Trojans host the Callaway Cavaliers in the quarterfinal round at 7:30 p.m. at Veterans Stadium on Friday.

The No. 6 Trojans (10-1) return home after a 35-17 victory against Dodge County last week. Jonathan White had a career game with 318 yards rushing and four touchdowns to help launch Brooks into this week’s quarterfinal round. White has 1,0929 yards rushing on the season. 

Mac Perry threw for 106 yards and a TD against Dodge and has 1,150 yards passing to his credit. He tossed a 79-yard scoring pass to Khalid Humphreys to give Brooks a 15-0 advantage after White ran in a score from 20 yards out and added a 2-point conversion run.

The Trojans’ defense allowed 17 points or more for the first time in three games. The last time was Oct. 27 when Region 1-2A rival Thomasville rallied in the second half, delivering a 23-20 loss. Before that, Brooks surrendered 17 to Fitzgerald in a blowout win Oct. 20. The only other game where a Trojans’ opponent scored more than 17 was Crisp County on Sept. 29, and Brooks won 31-21.

Trea Jackson finished with nine solo tackles for Brooks in last week’s win. Michael Edmonds had eight stops (seven solo) with an interception, a sack and forced a fumble. Jerell Woodson recorded eight tackles (six solo), including one for a loss. Rahjon Holden had six solo tackles (two for losses), and Anthony Daniels had five tackles (one for a loss).

Back home for a game at Veterans Stadium, the Trojans welcome a fresh playoff opponent to Quitman. 

No. 9 Callaway (11-1) ousted Brooks from the postseason last year, handing the Trojans a 28-14 loss in the second round and the first meeting between the programs. This year, the Cavaliers are a No. 2 seed from Region 5-2A. Brooks, also a No. 2 seed, is in the quarterfinal round for the fourth time since 2010.

The Cavaliers trailed Rockmart 34-28 with 2 minutes remaining last week, before Courtney Williams intercepted a pass and returned it 96 yards for the go-ahead score. Rockmart scored in the final minute, but fell 40-35.

Kendrick Ramsey (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) completed a 15-yard TD pass to extend Callaway’s lead to 34-21 early in the third. Rockmart added a 5-yard rushing score late in the period to cut the lead to 34-28 heading to the fourth.

DJ Atkins, a 5-9, 160-pound running back, ran for 108 yards for the Cavaliers in the second-round victory and has crossed the 1,000-yard rushing plateau this season. Atkins is joined in the backfield by four-star sophomore recruit Cartavious Bigsby, who ran for 151 yards in this year’s opening round of the playoffs.